It is common for all of us to have plumbing concerns and questions. Many of us want to be knowledgeable on how to make plumbing repairs, should any issues arise. These tips and hints will give you a little enlightenment on both ends of the spectrum, thus giving you the choice to proceed as you need with your plumbing demands.

If you possess pipes that are alive with the sound of squeaking or hammering, you have an issue that is easily corrected. Exposed pipes will have to be anchored. You might want to contact a professional when the pipes are hard to access.

To avoid frozen pipes in your home, never allow the temperature in your house to drop below freezing and insulate any pipes that are exposed to the elements. Your pipes can freeze if temperatures around them fall below freezing. It takes time for thawing to occur so you can have water again. However, they could burst, which would cause a huge mess and an extremely big repair bill.

Your septic tank should be pumped out at least once every five years if you want it to stay in optimum working order. This will keep sediment from building and causing backup into the house, and possibly causing the septic system to fail. In this case, the cost of prevention definitely outweighs having your septic backing up into your house or failing.

You do not give the plumber all the money until he is finished with his work. You may have to pay a portion of the cost before the plumber works on the job, but you should never have to pay in full until after everything has been correctly finished. You want to make sure that the plumber completed everything that they said they would before they get your money.

You should avoid using blue toilet tablets, bleach tablets or any other odor removers in your toilet. These products may well remove odors, but they have the side effect of damaging the rubber in your toilet, which can prevent your toilet from functioning correctly.

If you get your water from a well and orange or pink stains appear in your sink or tub, then you can be sure that the culprit is iron in your water. You can use water softener that you buy at the store to remedy this situation, or you can have a professional do it for you.

To increase the useful life of your garbage disposal, clean it out regularly. You can run lemon rinds and dish soap through your disposal to help keep it smelling fresh and operating in an efficient manner.

Check your fixtures to ensure the overflow holes are clear of debris and mineral build-up. Overflow holes catch the excess water from an overflowing sink. They may not sound like a matter of great importance until you actually need them. When you’re periodically checking your sink for possible problems, take the time to clean out the overflow holes.

You need to be educated before something happens. Just by doing a bit of routine maintenance, you can stave off future issues. Keep these tips handy so you’ll be prepared for any future plumbing need.…